Tuesday, September 29, 2026

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Temps in the 40s, mostly cloudy, rain late in the day, wind SW 15-20 mph

Weather, Sept 29, 2029

I started out before sunrise to fix the Seal Drive and Thrush feeders.

I then went up to Warbler Willows, then the National Forest. No new birds.

I headed down to Finger Bay and Creek. There were tons of gulls and cormorants, harlequins, mergansers, eagles, and eiders, but nothing new. The salmon were still running.

I went back up to the National Forest to eat lunch and try for the Redpoll that had been reported there. No Redpoll, but three Pacific Wrens entertained me — one bouncing around my car.

This is a frequent experience of mine — young wrens and sparrows climbing on my car. I’m never fast enough to get photos of them doing this, but it is a fun experience.

The Slaty-backed Gull was at NavFac Creek Beach this morning.

I only saw one Gyrfalcon today.

The Seawall was most productive today.

A Steller’s Sea Lion prowled the coastline.

Steller’s Sea Lion, Seawall, Sept 29, 2029

I had three species of loon, 3 Pacific, 1 Common, and 1 Red-throated.

Red-throated Loon (with Common Eider), Seawall, Sept 29, 2029

I also found the Long-tailed Duck that had been reported yesterday.

Long-tailed Duck, Seawall, Sept 29, 2029

On the way back around, I ran into the girls who told me they just saw one of the immature Gray-tailed Tattlers at Tattler Corner. I looked and looked, but could not find it.

Closer to town, I spotted two Red Phalaropes on the Kuluk Bay Kelp Bed.

Wilderness reported 4 Tufted Ducks at Lake Andrew today. I will try for them tomorrow.

Usually, this time of year, there are hundreds of Common Teal up at Clam Lagoon. They hide out much of the day in the teal ponds nearby, but venture out onto the southwest corner of the lagoon late in the day. But sometimes they are out there earlier. So far I have not seen that occurrence this trip.

I have only seen scattered teal here and there. One of these evenings I will go up there to confirm the numbers (as my body accommodates to the 5 hour time difference…).

Everyone leaves tomorrow, so unless some other birders show up that I don’t know about, I will be the only birder out here for the next week-and-a-half.

The trip list is at 42.

You can see the total list at https://ebird.org/tripreport/576221

Monday, September 28, 2026

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Temps in the 40s, Partly sunny, Wind W 10-15 mph.

Weather, Sept 28, 2026

After checking the feeders, I went to Sweeper Cove. The bay was calm and there were a lot of alcids present. Unfortunately, they were all Pigeon Guillemots and Common Murres.

The tide was high, so Sweeper Channel had no mud flats (or birds).

All of the other birders got together to walk some of the wet areas along Sweeper Creek for snipe and whatever else. While gathering for this endeavor a Peregrine and Gyrfalcon flew in. The Gyr (a brown immature) perched for everyone to get a nice look (and photos).

As I arrived, a flock of Aleutian Cackling Geese were flying over. Of course, the Gyr flew before I arrived, but I found it a few minutes later as I was driving past the Power Plant.

Gyrfalcon (brown immature), Power Plant, Sept 28, 2026

I headed up to the Airport Creek Bridge (next to the Landing Lights) and another Gyrfalcon flew in and landed on the structure. This bird was an immature gray morph.

Gyrfalcon (gray immature), Landing Lights, Sept 28, 2026

I then headed over to The Marsh and had another Gyrfalcon! This one was an adult gray morph.

Gyrfalcon (gray adult), The Marsh, Sept 28, 2026

No wonder all of the Asian strays are hiding…

I checked Warbler Willows, Lake Jean, and Andrew Lake. Nothing of note.

The sandbags that anchor my feeders have all been deteriorating. So I am replacing them with rocks. I did the National Forest and the Blue Building today. I will do the others tomorrow.

The tattlers were not seen today.

As I was scanning at the Seawall, I saw shearwaters in the distance, so I started scanning for albatross. I didn’t see any albatross, but i did see a thousand or so Short-tailed Shearwaters. They weren’t close.

When scanning these migrating streams of stiff-wings, I set my scope on one spot and let the birds fly through my field of vision. If something different shows up, I attempt to follow it. This time however, a pair of Yellow-billed Loons floated into view! As usual, very far out.

Aa I was leaving the Seawall, a Peregrine Falcon flew by.

Peregrine Falcon, Clam Lagoon, Sept 28, 2026

I ran into Wilderness and they told me the Slaty-backed Gull was at the Navfac Creek Beach.

It wasn’t there by the time I got there, but I found it just down the road at the Airport Creek Bridge.

Slaty-backed Gull, Airport Creek Bridge, Sept 28, 2026

The trip list is at 38.

You can see the total list at https://ebird.org/tripreport/576221

Sunday, September 27, 2026

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Temps in the 50s, partly sunny, Wind NW 10-15 mph

Weather, Sept 27, 2026

Did a quick scan of Kuluk Bay and Sweeper Cove before heading up to Clam Lagoon to join the others to walk the marsh edge.

We left two of the cars up at the west lookout and piled into Don’s car to go back down to the south lookout from where we started our walk.

Scanning for shorebirds, Clam Lagoon, Sept 27, 2026

We were halfway up before we ran into any shorebirds, but we ended up with several Sharp-tailed and at least one Pectoral sandpiper.

Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Clam Lagoon, Sept 27, 2026

The Sharp-tailed was a lifer for Nicole!

Vickie, Jen, Nicole, Don, and me, Clam Lagoon, Sept 27, 2026

Don then headed for the Loran Station, the girls headed south, and I continued around the lagoon.

The Gray-tailed Tattler was still there. As I was approaching the Seawall, a Gyrfalcon flew by.

The Seawall produced the usual eiders, Harlequins, cormorants, etc., along with Horned and Red-necked grebes, Common Murres, lots of gulls and kittiwakes.

Lake Shirley only had Greater Scaup, no sign of the Tufted Duck seen last week.

Lake Ronnie had a lot of ducks (around 75), but only Mallards, Eurasian Wigeon, and Common Teal.

On the way back, I ran into the girls at the Seawall, where they had a phalarope in the scope. It was a Red Phalarope. A lifer for them.

At the Lake Andrew Rec Center, I had a Pacific Wren calling.

There have been very few Rock Ptarmigan so far this trip. A stark contrast to the over-abundance this past spring.

The feeders are all busy with rosy-finches and the occasional Song Sparrow.

Wilderness had a couple of Redpolls today and saw the Tufted Duck over at Lake Andrew.

The girls had THREE Gray-tailed Tattlers at Tattler Corner today!

The trip list is at 30.

You can see the total list at https://ebird.org/tripreport/576221

Saturday, Sept 26, 2026

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Adak Weather, Sept 26, 2026

Temps in the 50s, Partly Sunny, Wind WSW 20-25 mph

I met Vickie, Jen, and Nicole at the Anchorage Airport. They will be out here until Wednesday. Don Aldrige arrived on Wednesday along with Wilderness Adventures.

The plane left about an hour early, so we arrived around 1 PM!

After doing some quick unpacking and food storing, off I went birding.

Mostly the usual suspects, but when I got to Tattler Corner (at Clam Lagoon), I spotted a bird on the rocks.

It was a Gray-tailed Tattler! That’s why I named this spot Tattler Corner. I always scan these rocks every time I go by. I will check tomorrow, but I’ve had at least a half-dozen tattlers here, both species.

Gray-tailed Tattler, Tattler Corner, Sept 26, 2026

I knew Jen needed that for a lifer, so I highballed it back to town – calling all the way in case they were nearby. I finally reached them when I got to the top of the hill near the National Forest. I gave them the news and the headed up to follow me back to the bird. The Wilderness Adventures group (Scott Hauser and Aaron Bowman leaders) also heard my call and also headed up there.

We got there and the bird was still there, unperturbed by our presense.

Wilderness got there after we left, but also had fine looks at the bird.

Not a real rarity, but I don’t get it every fall. So a nice start to the trip.

I will start loading my eBird lists tomorrow. Too tired right now.

Saturday, May 30, 2026

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Temps in the 40s, Mostly cloudy, Wind NNE 5-15 mph

Weather, May 30, 2026

No last-minute surprises.

But what a great trip!

I ended up with 88 species. My best spring trip ever. My biggest year list on Adak was 94 in 2017, so I only need 7 year birds this fall to beat that.

I got five-and-a-half lifers.

Lifers:
Falcated Duck
Great Knot
Fieldfare
Common Gull
Eurasian Hobby

Semi-lifer:
Common Tern (subspecies longipenis)

Life list now 739.

Adak list now 176.

I’ve been coming out here since 2005, and to get 5 lifers is just ridiculous…
The last time I had that many was in 2007, when I got 7.

Not only were there a lot of Asian strays, many of them were not just singles. Bramblings, Hawfinches, Wood Sandpipers, Red-necked Stints, Temminck’s Stints, Common Greenshanks, Tundra Bean Geese, Tufted Ducks, Siberian Sand-Plovers, Eurasian Whimbrels, Terek Sandpipers, Common Gulls (one seen after I left), Black-headed Gulls, Great Egrets (Asian subspecies?) all had more than one individual.

Other Asian strays (singles) included Garganey, Falcated Duck, Great Knot, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Eurasian Hobby, and Fieldfare.

I also saw 2 auklets (Crested and Parakeet), which is rare from land.

It was a wonderful trip with a lot of birders (many whom I have gotten to know on Adak).

My fall trip this year will be from September 23 to October 7.

NOTE: I saw a Cackling Goose with a neck collar. I sent the info to the Birdbanding Lab and am waiting for the results. When I get the info, I will add it to this post. So check back in a few weeks.

UPDATE: The above mentioned banded goose was banded near Walnut Grove, San Joaquin County, California on Nov 3, 2025. It is a female, hatched in 2025.

Friday, May 29, 2026

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Temps in the 40s, mostly cloudy, wind NW 10-15 mph

Weather, May 29, 2026

The cloud cover was weird today. Several layers. Some low-hanging clouds almost touching the ground. Moving at different speeds. Occassionaly letting the sun peek through.

Sunlight, May 29, 2026

Not much bird activity today, but I did add Crested Auklet to the trip list. This is the first 2-auklet species trip I have had since the last Whiskered Auklet boat trip many years ago.

I also had an Arctic Loon.

The Common Gull is still around as are the Garganey, Great Egret, Hawfinches, and Brambling. The Hobby was not seen again today…

The Bar-tailed Godwits were a little closer today.

Bar-tailed Godwits, Clam Lagoon, May 29, 2026

The most exciting sighting today was a Steller’s Sea Lion up on Navfac Beach. Most of the Sea Lions I see out here are patrolling just off the Seawall. The only Sea Lions that I have seen out of the water were on my first Whiskered Auklet boat trip, when the captain took us by a rookery. So this was pretty nice.

Steller’s Sea Lion, Navfac Beach, May 29, 2026

The closeup shows it is sleeping…

Steller’s Sea Lion sleeping, Navfac Beach, May 29, 2026

The trip list is at 88.

You can see the total list at https://ebird.org/tripreport/525344?welcome=true

I leave for home tomorrow afternoon (around 2:30).

I won’t be posting my final trip blog until Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.

Thursday, May 28, 2026

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Temps in the 40s, overcast, Wind WSW 20-30 mph

Weather, May 28, 2026

No Hobby today…

At Sweeper Channel, I found one of the few American Green-winged Teal that are around.

American Green-winged Teal, Sweeper Channel, May 28, 2026

At the seawatch at Sweeper Cove, I found the White-winged Scoters that I saw yesterday.

White-winged Scoter, Kuluk Bay, May 28, 2026

The big excitement was a couple of Parakeet Auklets found at the Kuluk Bay Kelp Bed. They were between the Kelp Bed and the shore, so a decent view.

However, they spent more time underwater than above, so they were very difficult to photograph. I didn’t get any photos, but some of the others birders did. None of the auklets are regularly seen from the Adak shoreline, so this was a nice trip bird. I have had one other shoreline sighting.

The Common Gull was more cooperative today and I got some better photos.

Common Gull, Clam Lagoon, May 28, 2026
Common Gull, Clam Lagoon, May 28, 2026

Does this look like George Washington?

George Washington?

The trip list is at 86.

You can see the total list at https://ebird.org/tripreport/525344?welcome=true

A day-and-a-half to go…

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

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Temps in the 40s, mostly cloudy, rare sprinkle, Wind WSW 10-15 mph

Weather, May 27, 2026

Not much new today. However, other birders keep seeing the Hobby… And I don’t!

I picked up White-winged Scoter and Thick-billed Murre today for the trip list.

The Common Gull was still at Clam Lagoon.

The only photo ops were of Bramblings and Hawfinches.

Bramblings (4) with Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Seal Drive Feeder, May 27, 2026
Hawfinches, Thrush Feeder, May 27, 2026

In the afternoon (after the plane left without Vicky and Jen, who chose to stay three more days!), they followed me around Clam Lagoon. When we got to the Blue Building Feeder, I showed them the pellets that I had mentioned in a previous post.

I had speculated that they were from a Short-eared Owl, but once I had the Eurasian Sparrowhawk at that location, I thought maybe that was the source.

Vickie pointed out to me that if the pellets have bones, they are from an owl. If not, they are from a hawk.

So we dissected one of the pellets. No bones.

Vicky, me, and Jen with the aforementioned analyzed pellet.

I learned from some of the other birders here that had come out to Adak this winter to see the Sparrowhawk that it had been roosting inside the Blue Building. So we went inside and found lots of large poops and many pellets.

As much as I would like a nicer photo of that bird. I am not going to go in there when it is roosting.

The jet came and went today, taking home 16 birders. There are still a dozen or so out here, with more coming Saturday and next Wednesday!

I leave on Saturday…

The trip list is at 85.

This is now my best Spring Adak count ever!

You can see the total list at https://ebird.org/tripreport/525344?welcome=true

Note: I changed the Id on two previous reports. The Gray-tailed Tattler is a Wandering Tattler, and the Siberian Pipit is just an American Pipit. I updated the relevant posts. That did not change my species total, however.

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

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Temps in the 40s, partly cloudy, occasional slight drizzle, Wind N 15-25 mph

Weather, May 26, 2026

Spent much of today on a “Wild Hobby Chase!”

In late morning, I heard a call that the Eurasian Hobby was seen at The Marsh.

I raced down there (from Clam Lagoon). The bird had disappeared, and most of the birders started roaming the area looking for it.

I decided to stake out the Thrush Feeder which is at the northeast corner of the Marsh (this is where I got my Merlin. They know a good diner when they see one!).

Anyway, I was sitting there when Sam stopped by and, as we were talking, Sam spotted a falcon and quickly identified it as the Hobby.

I tumbled out of the car, camera in hand, but neither of us got photos.

I did see it with my naked eye, but only to tell it was a falcon. Sam got a better look and was able to identify it.

We radioed everyone and they all decided to stake out the area in case it returned again.

I stayed near the Thrush Feeder.

I got a call from one of the other birders saying they had relocated it and it was at the south part of the Marsh.

I raced down there, but when I arrived (maybe 20 seconds!) no one was there! I called and asked where they were, and finally determined they were at the NORTH side of the Marsh!!!! AAARGHH!!

Of course, by the time I got back up there, the bird was gone!

I stayed in the area for another hour or two, but did not see it again.

I saw a Hobby in Europe back in 2016, so it is not a world lifer, but it is an ABA and Adak lifer. No really happy with what I saw, but maybe over the rest of this week, I’ll get lucky.

In other news, Jen and Vicky fund a Common/Short-billed Gull yesterday. They thought it was a Common, but waited for the experts to check in. They got terrific photos.

It was reported at several locations today. Moving around a lot.

The word cam down that it was a definite Common.

I finally caught up with it on Clam Lagoon East Side Flats.

Common Gull, Clam Lagoon, May 26, 2026

Not a Lifer, but an Adak bird.

I got a distant shot of the Bar-tailed Godwit flock.

Bar-tailed Godwits, Clam Lagoon, May 26, 2026

A few mild days plus two days of rain lessened the snow cap on Mt Moffet. Note: these photos were taken from different angles.

Mount Moffet Snow Melt

The trip list is at 83.

This is now my best Spring Adak count ever! And there are still at least 7 species that were seen by others while I’ve been here that I have not caught up to yet. And I have three-and-a-half days to go!

You can see the total list at https://ebird.org/tripreport/525344?welcome=true

Monday, May 25, 2026

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Temps in the 30s and 40s, overcast, rain, lessening in late afternoon, Wind NW 15-30 mph

Weather, May 25, 2026

Not much happening today.

I picked up Lesser Scaup for the trip.

Lesser Scaup (rear) with Greater Scaup, East Side Ponds, May 25, 2026

Note on the Lesser that the eye is in front of the high point on the head, while it’s behind on the Greater.

An interesting side note. I had scattered some mealworms at the Fieldfare location (BTY, it hasn’t been seen since Saturday). Today, while checking to see if the Fieldfare was around, I saw a Lapland Longspur eating them! Unusual for what I thought was a seedeater.

Photographing these Wood Sandpipers is just too easy.

Wood Sandpiper, Adak, May 25, 2026

I had been mentioning to all of the birders that I met during the past few days that there hadn’t been any Bar-tailed Godwits. I’ve never had a May trip without them!

Well, today they arrived. Seen in multiple locations and in flocks.

I saw 17 at Clam Lagoon (too far for photos).

That brought my trip list to 81, which ties my biggest Spring trip list!

And there are at least 9 other species that have been seen since I arrived that I haven’t caught up to yet!

You can see the total list at https://ebird.org/tripreport/525344?welcome=true